It’s been a long time since Bobby Ewing ruled the airwaves, and Patrick Duffy was a sex symbol.

But the man’s still working. Since “Dallas,” there have been movies, sitcoms and one animated appearance on “South Park” as the leg of a mountain monster named Scuzzlebutt.

Hmm.

So, as Duffy fielded questions from reporters, he seemed to be a breath away from complaining about not getting any respect. On the other hand, he was on the same panel as Casper Van Dien, who has more reason to whine than Duffy does. Van Dien’s still riding on “Starship Troopers.” Yeah. Things could be a lot worse.

Oh, don’t cry for Mr. Ewing — it was all an act. Duffy’s a good-humored guy taking his career’s maturity in stride, and he could be doing a lot worse than starring with Shelley Long, Bruce Boxleitner and Patty Duke in “Falling in Love with The Girl Next Door.” After that comes the western drama “Desolation Canyon,” with Stacy Keach, premiering this summer in July.

But he had his moments. First, “Scrubs'” Judy Reyes, starring with Doris Roberts in “Our House,” slipped up while trying to give him props. “I work with a group of actors who are television junkies from back in the day,” she said of her sitcom co-stars, “so we spend our time talking about Marion Ross and Doris Roberts and Shelley Long and Patrick Ewing…”

“Ewing?” Duffy cut her off.

“Duffy! Patrick Duffy!” Reyes said.

“Since I retired from the NBA…” Duffy joked, before Reyes finished, “….He’s become a fabulous actor.”

Later, someone asked him about what drew him to a Western.

“I did it because they said Stacy Keach (would co-star), that’s true, that’s why I did it,” Duffy said.

“No,” Keach contradicted him, “you needed the money.”

“I did need the money, and I kept the wardrobe, that’s how badly I needed the money.”

Still later, Reyes was moved to pipe in with, “I want to be like everybody on this stage.”